Decoy



(No Model.)

W. H. JENCKS.

No. 410,523. Patented Sept. 3, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. JEN CKS, OF CLINTON, IOWVA.

DECOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,523, dated September 3, 1889. Application filed February 5, 1889. Serial No. 298,723. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, WILLIAM H. J ENCKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Clinton, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decoys, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to decoy-ducks, and among the main objects are to provide a decoy that shall be as natural in its movement as possible, and that is adapted for use in flocks as well as singly, both in shallow and deep water, and for rapid removal and transportation without the liability of their anchorcords becoming tangled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in forming a decoy in sections, suitably connecting the same, in providing internal chambers, thus adding to the buoyancy of the decoy, and in mounting in one of said chambers a reel for taking up and paying out the anchor-cord, and also in providing said reel with an exterior means for operating and holding the same at any point whereby the length of anchor-cord is in accordance with the depth of water in which the decoy is employed, and where employed in flocks the entanglement of the several cords is obviated, thus facilitating their hasty removal.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of a decoy-duck constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the head and adjacent body portion of the same and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same portion as shown in Fig. 2, the upper section being removed to show the interior.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I prefer to construct the same of three sections-namely, the bottom or lower body-section, the upper or top body-section, and the head. 1 represents the bottom section, 2 the upper bodyseetion, and 3 the head, the three when assembled having the appearance of a duck.

The lower section 1 is formed with an internal chamber 4 near its front end, and may, for the purpose of buoyancy, also be provided with a rear chamber 5. Screws 6 may be inserted from the underneath portion of the lower section into the upper section for the purpose of securing the two sections together.

Mounted for rotation in a bearing 7, formed in the chamber lc of the lower section and projecting through an opening 8, formed in the upper section, is a shaft or Vertical spindle 9, to the upper end of which is affixed movable with the spindle the head 3 of the decoy, the head and shaft being rigid with each other by means of across-pin 10 or other usual means, said shaft being passed into a socket 11, formed in the head. By reason of this pivoting of the head it will be apparent that as the decoy is moved or rocked by the wind and waves the head will be slowly swung from side to side in imitation of the actions of a duck.

Rigid with and mounted upon the spindle 8 is a spool 12, to which is secured one end of an anchor-cord 13, said cord being passed through an opening 14, formed in the lower section 1 at its front end, and being provided with a weight or anchor 15. The upper end of the spool 12 is formed with a semicircular recess lb, into which the lower end of a binding or stop pin 17, passed through the upper section 2 at its front end, takes. Now by revolving the head of the duck in one direction it is apparent that the cord 13 will be wound upon the spool and the anchor or weight 15 brought to a position adjacent to the decoy, which may now be thrown into a sack orbottom of a boat with others and their anchor-cords will remain disentangled, the set-screw 17 being tightened to prevent the unwinding of the spool.'

If desired, a small recess 18 may be provided upon the upper face of the spool for the purpose of receiving the lower end of the set-screw 17 when it is desired to lock the spool against any movement whatever, as in packing or transporting, the bill of the duck being then turned to the rear, whereby it is prevented from accidental breaking. By loosening the set-screw 17 sufficient anchor-cord is paid out, and the screw is slightly tightened IOO in the semicircular slot 16, when by reason ofthe length of the slota movement of the head of the duck from side to side is permissible, and yet the cord cannot be paid out farther. This serves to prevent the cords of several decoys becoming tangled, and the flock of decoys may be readily removed, such an ad? is prevented from becoming water-logged and heavy.

Having described my invention, what: I.

claim is- 1. A decoy-duck provided withwan internal.

anchor-cord-windin g reel, in combination with a set-screw adapted to bear upon the reel and lock the same in position, substantially as specified.

2. Adecoy-duck provided with an internal anchor-cord-winding reel having a recess upon screw adapted to take into the recess, whereby tially as specified.

A decoy-duck provided with an internal i anchor-cord-winding reel mounted upon a shaft projecting through the upper portion of the duck, in combination with the head of the decoy mounted on the shaft, adapted to be revolved for the purpose of revolving the reel, substantially as specified.

4. Adecoy-duckformed with forward and rearward internal recesses, in combination with a shaft mounted in the forward recess andprovided with a spool or reel, a decoyhead mounted on the shaft and adapted to revolvethe same, and an anchor-cord, one end of which is made fast to and adapted to be wound' upon the spool, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the body-sections J 1 and2, secured, as at 6, internally recessed,

as at 4 and 5,- and having the openings7, 8,.

and 14, in combination withthe head 3, re-

,cessed, as at 11, the shaft 9, mounted in the bearings? and Sand terminating in the recess 11, the reel 12, mounted rigidly. on the ishaft and recessed, as at 16 and 18, and car- ;rying the anchor-cord 13, passing through the ;opening 14, andvthe set-screw 17, for taking into the recesses 16 and18, substantially as specified;

one of its ends, in combinatioinwith aset-.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in .presence of. two witnesses. the reel is locked against unwinding,- but may be oscillated from side to side, substan- WILLIAM H.- J EN-GKS. lVitnesses:

ANDREW HowA'r, JOHN JACKSON. 

